Apparatus for melting and tempering chocolate

ABSTRACT

A portable chocolate mill for controllably melting and feeding chocolate from a bar to a receiving pan which is controllably heated so as to maintain the melted chocolate at a tempering temperature and make it readily available for use in a candy making process.

O Umted States Patent [1 1 1111 3,756,141 Rose 1451 Sept. 4, 1973 1APPARATUS FOR MELTING AND 2,704,722 3/1955 Barton 165/109 x TEMPERINGCHOCOLATE 1,673,395 6/1928 Clark 99/403 UX 1,344,638 6/1920 Kinsman99/236 UX Inventor: Lewis D. Rose, 3339 Eagle Blvd.,

Orlando, Fla. 32804 Filed: Oct. 28, 1971 Appl. No.: 193,513

US. Cl 99/348, 165/109, 219/1069, 219/421, 219/469 Int. Cl A23g 1/18Field of Search 99/236 CC, 23, 403, 99/324, 485, 348; 118/20, 27; 34/20;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS v 5/1949 Ashworth ct 99/236 CCPrimary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Attorney-Robert W. Duckworth et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A portable chocolate mill for controllably melting andfeeding chocolate from a bar to a receiving pan which is controllablyheated so as to maintain the melted chocolate at -a temperingtemperature and make it readily available for use in a candy makingprocess.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED SE? 4 I875 3 756. l 4 l Lewis 0.Rose wxww Arm l9.

APPARATUS FOR MELTING ANDTEMPERING CHOCOLATE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an apparatus for controllably meltingand tempering chocolate. In effect, this invention allows the candymaking industry to come out of the back room and take the chocolate millout into the front area of a candy store while making candy in fullpublic view. Further, it provides a portable device whereby only thechocolate needed at any one time is melted and tempered for use.

In the past, such chocolate mills have consisted of several pieces ofmachinery such as double boilers for melting and tempering chocolate andwarming or candy rolling tables which are used by the confectioners tokeep the chocolate in a warm and molten condition during the candymaking process. Chocolate after being melted is normally transferredfrom the melter to the warming table. This is a complicated and messyprocedure requiring care.

Chocolate is used primarily in the candy industry as a coating forvarious types of candies, for example, cordial cherries, french creams,nuts and cordials, etc. In order to present a proper appearance in suchuse, chocolate must be properly tempered. If the chocolate used as acoating is not properly tempered, it will streak and turn white due tothe fats and oils separating from the chocolate mass. I

Tempering of natural chocolate has in the past generally beenaccomplished by grating or cutting the chocolate into small pieces andheating at a temperature of 100 F such as in a double boiler whilestirring to melt completely. The melted chocolate is then reduced intemperature to a temperature between 60 F and 80 F and finally thetemperature of the melt is raised to approximately 85 F for use in thevarious candy making processes. The above process must be conducted withextreme care so as to prevent any moisture from the double boilergetting into the chocolate or the temperature from rising above 100 F aseither will cause the chocolate to change color and be unfit for use asa candy coating. While it is recognized that heat treatment' ofartificial chocolates are not as critical as with the naturalchocolates, my novel-apparatus is equally useful in this handling ofartificial chocolate in the confectioners arts.

The present invention solves many problems which has in the past plaguedthe candy makers. It provides a simple and efficient piece of machinerywhich can be used to melt and feed the proper amount of chocolate to awarm pan where the melted chocolate is tempered and made ready for usein'the candy making process without the difficult transferring process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portablechocolate mill or apparatus which is used for the melting and temperingof chocolate both natural and artificial for use by confectioners. Theapparatus has a casing which serves to house the necessary electricalapparatus to control the operation of the melting and tempering of thechocolate. Said housing also provides means for supporting a chocolatebar which will be melted and transferred to the working surface of thecandy pan by an associated heated roller which is attached to thesupport housing. Removably associated with said support housing is aheated receiving pan or candy working surface which is adapted tocollect the molten chocolate in a heated condition and temper and holdthe same pending its association with the other ingredients of the candyto be made by the confectioner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, features and advantageswill become apparent from a study of the written description withreference to the accompanying drawing, wherein FIG. 1 is a perspectiveview of chocolate mill showing a bar of chocolate in position for beingmelted and with the pan for receiving the melted chocolate removed;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the chocolate receiving portion of themill along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the chocolate mill along line 3--3 of FIG.1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, andupstanding housing 1 which is shown in perspective view having aninclined surface 2, vertical sides 4 and 5, and a back and bottomportion not shown. At the upper-most portion of said housing 1, islocated an opaque area 3, which may be used for advertising material ifdesired. Said opaque surface 3, being illuminated by an electric lamp(not shown) which is activated by light switch 14. The inclined surface2 is provided with guide members 6 and 7 which serve to guide achocolate bar (C) which is supported on inclined surface 2 prior to itsbeing melted and tempered. The chocolate bar is melted at a controlledrate by roller 8 which has therein a perforated cylinder 15 and aheating element 13 located therein. Said feed roller 8 is driven bymotor 9, which is controlled by switch 10. Signal light 11 is a signallight which shows whether or not power is being supplied to motor 9.Roller 8 is supported on the housing member 1 by support means 16 and 17located on either side of said housing member attached to vertical sides4 and 5 respectively. The temperature of the roller 8 is maintained atapproximately F by heat which is supplied by heating rod 13, the heatradiating through perforated cylinder 15 onto the roller. Thetemperature of heating rod 13 may be varied between 90 F and F by switch18 through electrical conduit 19. When switch means 18 is activatedproviding current to heating rod 13 signal light 20 is activated showingthat power is being supplied to the heated roller 8. Switch 21 serves toactivate the heating coils in-the candy receiving tray 22. When saidswitch 21 is activated, signal light 23 is lit. The candy receiving tray22 is provided with heating elements 24 which serve to provide heat tocandy pan 23 shown in FIG. 2. Safety light 25 serves to notify the userof any current that is passing through any of the circuits of themachine.

Fuse holder 26 provides complete protection to the chocolate mill andwill blow to discontinue the flow of electrical current to the machineif any of the heating element overheats. I

Referring now to FIG. 2 which is a crosssection view taken along line 22of FIG. 1, the candy receiving tray 23 is comprised of a rectangularmetal pan having side walls 25 and 26 and a bottom 27 and two ends notshown. Inside of said candy receiving tray is a bottom layer of spunglass 28 which serves to insulate the bottom portion of working surfaceof the table (not shown) which supports the entire chocolate mill fromheating element 24. Super-imposed on spun glass layer 28 is asbestossheet 29 which serves to further insulate the support table (not shown)and provide a base for the heating coils 24. Supported on said heatingcoils is a second asbestos sheet 30 which serves to prevent the heat ofthe heating coils 24 from radiating directly on the bottom surface 31 ofthe candy pan 32. The side portions 33 and 34 of said candy panterminate in a lip 35 which serves to overlap the ends and sides ofreceiving tray 23. Candy pan 32 is supported by its vertical sidemembers so as to be above and not resting on the asbestos sheet 30 andbottom surface of the candy pan 31 so as to allow the heat radiatingfrom heating element 24 to be uniform across the bottom of the candy pan32 preventing the formation of hot spots and maintains the chocolate inthe candy pan at a temperature of from 80 F to 85 F.

Referring to FIG. 3, cable 36 is connected to an electrical receptacle(not shown) in the support housing 1 which is connected by electricalcircuiting not shown to switch 21 which serves to control the amount ofcurrent and thus the heat supplied to candy pan 32 in the mannerpreviously described. Motor 9 controlled by switch through conduit 37drives heated roller 8 by means of a sprocket and chain drive 39. Theroller 8 controlled by motor 9 rotates outwardly from housing 1 causingthe chocolate melted from the bar supported of inclined surface 2 toflow over the top and outside roller 8 and drip into candy pan 32. Ihave found that my chocolate mill operates with optimum results ifheated roller 8 is rotating at a speed of from six to l0 revolutions perminute.

This invention is not to be construed as limited to the particular formsdescribed and disclosed herein, since these are to be regarded asillustrative rather than restrictive.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for melting and tempering chocolate type materialscomprising in combination:

a. an upright member having an inlined surface for supporting a bar ofchocolate type material to be melted and tempered, said inclined surfacehaving a bottom and a top edge;

b. a feed roller rotatably attached to said upright member at the bottomedge of said inclined plane, said roller having at least one heatingelement therein for heating said roller to a predetermined temperatureto melt a bar of chocolate material while feeding said bar by therotation of said roller, said roller supporting said bar of chocolate onsaid inclined surface;

c. a controllable heated receiving means attached to said upright memberand located below said feed roller and below the bottom edge of saidinclined surface to receive and temper said melted chocolate from saidbar of chocolate type material.

2. The apparatus for melting and tempering chocolate type materials asdefined in claim 1 wherein the receiving means is comprised of a supportpan having therein controllable heating elements and supporting aremovable melt receiving surface.

1. Apparatus for melting and tempering chocolate type materialscomprising in combination: a. an upright member having an inlinedsurface for supporting a bar of chocolate type material to be melted andtempered, said inclined surface having a bottom and a top edge; b. afeed roller rotatably attached to said upright member at the bottom edgeof said inclined plane, said roller having at least one heating elementtherein for heating said roller to a predetermined temperature to melt abar of chocolate material while feeding said bar by the rotation of saidroller, said roller supporting said bar of chocolate on said inclinedsurface; c. a controllable heated receiving means attached to saidupright member and located below said feed roller and below the bottomedge of said inclined surface to receive and temper said meltedchocolate from said bar of chocolate type material.
 2. The apparatus formelting and tempering chocolate type materials as defined in claim 1wherein the receiving means is comprised of a support pan having thereincontrollable heating elements and supporting a removable melt receivingsurface.